 | | "Believe... Pick a stronger word than Hope... Cure" |
Braving an Extraordinary ChallengeFor those whose lives and families are touched by ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, it can be difficult to take a stand. There is no cure available and only one treatment option that has not shown to be clinically significant in slowing the progress of this neurodegenerative disease in its early stages. ALS patients and their families are denied battle tools similar to those offered to patients with cancer or heart disease. But beyond the limits of today is the promise of tomorrow. The promise of significant disease treatments for those affected by ALS lies at the heart of academic medical centers—by funding medical research, so that others may live longer, healthier lives. Since 2007, the Blazeman Foundation for ALS has wielded a mighty weapon in the war on ALS, spreading awareness and raising funds to support research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Led by Bob and Mary Ann Blais, the Foundation is named for their late son, Jonathan "Blazeman" Blais. Last year, the Foundation funded the Blazeman Foundation Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in the laboratory of Teepu Siddique, MD, Les Turner ALS Foundation/Herbert C. Wenske Foundation Professor at Northwestern University. To continue these efforts and advance additional investigations, the Blazeman Foundation for ALS has recently committed to fund the fellowship through 2012 and has provided an additional grant, dedicated to further Dr. Siddique's research into a new approach to therapy for ALS. In total, the Blazeman Foundation for ALS has committed approximately $300,000 to Northwestern University. To gather additional information to fight this largely mysterious, fatal disease, Dr. Siddique will study the inherent biological differences and similarities in the motor neurons involved in ALS. Using exciting new technology, Dr. Siddique and his team will engineer motor neurons from pluripotent cells obtained from patients' own skin fibroblasts, the cells that comprise most connective tissue. Conducting a handwriting analysis of sorts, Dr. Siddique and his colleagues will examine these motor neurons to study the differences apparent in their molecular signatures, noting whether patterns or consistencies exist based on neurons from patients with early onset and late onset ALS, familial or sporadic ALS, and rapidly or more slowly progressing ALS. According to Dr. Siddique, "A better understanding of these inherent biological variations could form the basis of therapy in which disease onset is postponed, or progression is greatly slowed, or both." In deciding to support this revolutionary research, Bob and Mary Ann Blais knew that Dr. Siddique's laboratory at the Feinberg School of Medicine was the best place to look for greater understanding, and ultimately, answers. With one of the largest ALS patient databases in the nation, the laboratory is well equipped to undertake this study. The Les Turner ALS Foundation, a Chicago-based organization dedicated soley to ALS research and patient care, has been a major donor to ALS research and clinical care at Northwestern for over 30 years, and was instrumental in introducing the Blazeman Foundation to Dr. Siddique. Collaborative efforts like these truly move the field of research forward. "After personally meeting with Dr. Siddique and his team, we feel very confident his approach to understanding this horrific disease is consistent with what Jon wanted. Jon believed that a true understanding of this disease would lead to treatment modalities and, eventually, a cure," the Blais family recently shared. The Blazeman Foundation for ALS was founded in 2007, to continue the battle started by Jonathan "Blazeman" Blais, the son of Bob and Mary Ann Blais, and an "ALS Warrior Poet." In 2005, Jon Blais was diagnosed with ALS. By triumphantly completing the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii approximately 18 months after the onset of his disease, Jon Blais inspired countless athletes and began to raise awareness by putting a face on ALS throughout the multi-sport community. When he passed away on May 27, 2007, he already had made a huge difference in the lives of many multi-sport athletes and begun to build the Team Blazeman community that his family continues today. For more information on the Blazeman Foundation for ALS, check out their profile at http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/giving/noteworthy/Blazeman.html or visit http://www.waronals.com/. If you would like to learn more about Jonathan Blais—the Blazeman, visit http://www.alswarriorpoet.com/. To see Team Blazeman in action, visit their social networking page at http://teamblazeman.ning.com/ and check out Sports Illustrated's photo of Ironman Champion Chrissie Wellington log-rolling across the finish line in honor of Jon.
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